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Lifeguard vs the safeguard. Set the record straight

MattMan81

MattMan81

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Am I missing something? All I have read on here is you don't want to rapell on a life guard. Other than it not staying put with out a load I thought it was the same. I have been using it with the tag end attached on a prussics on the side of my saddle for a back up. But find it pretty easy to use. Are you guys running the safeguard with out a back up?????! I know if you pull the handel all the way it let's line out quick. Discovered that at ground level. But I picked this up by mistake last year on sale, and don't see why I should purchase a safeguard on top of it. Unless someone can give me real proof of why it's not safe to use it that way.???
 
I've owned and rappelled a bunch on the Lifeguard. In that regard it works exactly like a Safeguard. The potential downside to the Lifeguard only affects you if you're using it as a tether connection while hunting. If it's unweighted (something that can't happen during rappel) there is a chance the return spring could open the cam and it might fail to lock back up as it is re-weighted. If your intention is to use it only for rappel then there is no functional difference between the two.
 
If you read the directions on the lifeguard it actually says to not put any back up or anything that could pull into the device on the tag end. I feel like that is more geared towards actually using it as a belay device (standing on the ground and feeding rope up to the climber). I also used an autoblock below the device like you just mentioned while I was learning to descend with the safeguard but now I am comfortable using it without it. I also have no idea what I am talking about with climbing gear. So there’s that.
 
_Dario said:
If you read the directions on the lifeguard it actually says to not put any back up or anything that could pull into the device on the tag end. I feel like that is more geared towards actually using it as a belay device (standing on the ground and feeding rope up to the climber). I also used an autoblock below the device like you just mentioned while I was learning to descend with the safeguard but now I am comfortable using it without it. I also have no idea what I am talking about with climbing gear. So there’s that.
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I don't have the most knowledge either. The block and the device should never come together unless I spin out of control. That case I got problems.. But if someone on here does have that knowledge and knows it is not safe, than please let me know. My wife and kids wants me to come home from hunting.
 
I feel like you probably can’t go wrong using an autoblock under the device in a rappel context. Even better would be putting the autoblock above the device.


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Resurrecting this.

Recently got a Grigri+ and noticed that it too has a return spring...I'm assuming just like the action of the spring in the Mad Rock Lifeguard, but can't be sure since I've never even held a Lifeguard but do have a Safeguard. The Safeguard cam just pivots freely, with a very slight amount of friction in there presumably from a friction washer or similar.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Lifeguard would be perfectly fine for our purposes, and may have just gotten a bad rap at some point, possibly for reasons not related to how we would use it. Just a guess, though. I do intend to buy one to finally find out for myself.
 
Spartan said:
Resurrecting this.

Recently got a Grigri+ and noticed that it too has a return spring...I'm assuming just like the action of the spring in the Mad Rock Lifeguard, but can't be sure since I've never even held a Lifeguard but do have a Safeguard. The Safeguard cam just pivots freely, with a very slight amount of friction in there presumably from a friction washer or similar.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Lifeguard would be perfectly fine for our purposes, and may have just gotten a bad rap at some point, possibly for reasons not related to how we would use it. Just a guess, though. I do intend to buy one to finally find out for myself.
Click to expand...
I used the lifeguard all last season. You just have to weight it so it doesn't work down the rope. So a little extra work getting things tight when getting out of the tree.
 
I have the Grigri (GG) and the Safeguard (SG), they are both safe when used correctly. I like the GG for it's smoothness on rappel and the SG for it's small size. I used the autoblock with the GG and have found that if a big ol buck approaches from the offside and I need to reposition for a shot it takes two hands to reset the GG which means I don't have my bow. Not good obviously. It (GG) is also larger than the SG and can get in the way for certain shots. With all that said my own preference is to SRT with SG or GG, hang on tether with a friction knot and switch back for the journey down, less metal on tether for less noise. I one stick with the friction knot and soft shackle for the same reason (less noise).
 
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